Douche appliance



May 7, 1940. 1.. B. TUCKER DOUCHE APPLIANCE Filed Sept. 21, 1938- u I. l l u INVENT OR. -$Wi$ 55o?! Pucker BY 12mm; mymw 56L ATTORNEYS Patented May 7, 1940 g uN rEo stares rarest" ()FFiCE 3 Claims.

My inventionrelates to syringes generally but more. specificallyto the type designed for use in commotion with the douche known as the vaginal douche.

I; have devised a novel douche apparatus for [use in feminine hygiene, of such simple con- 5 determined strength is formed simply by the flow oi the water through and past this cake of germicidal or medicinal powder. The cylinder or lozenge of. powder will have a hole through the center throughwhich the water will pass and one or more channels longitudinally along. the

cylinder to effect more rapid liquefication and dis solution of the lozenge.

' I have further efiected a combination of a control cap to be used as an intermediate between the source of Water under pressurelas for example a faucet) andthe tube which leads to the douche apparatus of, my invention. By means of this cap structure, to be set out more specifically hereinafter, there is an automatic control vested in '0 the can so .that should the pressure of the water become higher than desired there will be an instantaneous disengagement of the tube from the water supply.v

This cap'is commonly formed of rubber or a gga 'similar resilient material and fits by' friction enagement over the mouth of the faucet. The friction. fit is such that it adheres firmly to the mouth-of the faucet so long as the pressure of Water thereupon is below a certain point. Up

mito' the time that the water emerging from the faucet'reaches that certain point, the cap continues to freely allow the passage of water through it, but should the water pressure rise above this point, then the very pressure of the '5" waternitself will automatically disengage the friction fit and separate the rubber cap from the mouth of the faucet, thus disengaging the water supply from the tube of the douche appliance.

This action is brought about by the elasticity of 5' the rubber cap and the closeness of the friction engagement. The opposite end of the cap is suitably engaged to a rubber tube, which in turn is attached to the douche appliance.

In order to produce the desired medicinal, germicidal or .disinfecting solution, I provide at the base of the member which constitutes the douche appliance a chamber adapted to contain a cake of cylindrical or lozenge shape formed of germicidal or antiseptic powders of various formulae. The cylinder or lozenge has a hole through its center and channels lengthwise which allows the water under pressure to pass through such opening and act upon the powder in the walls of the cake, dissolving the powder into solution. Thus, there is a constant flow of germicidal, disinfecting or healing solution Without interruption of the Water flow. This particular construction is of great importance inasmuchas it makes possi ble the formation of the desired solution without the possibility of blocking the passage through the chamber as hole and channels have as great or greater area as the lumen of the tube, and presents the medicinal qualities of the powder in an extremely eifective form because of its being suspended in solution, thus thoroughly contacting all parts of the wall of the vagina.

I further provide a screen to cover the entire face of the end of the chamber'through which the water emerges after passing through the center of the lozenge or cylindrical cake of medicinal powder. This screen has a double function. It prevents the passage or undissolved particles or lumps of the medicinal powder into the vagina, and assists in. breaking up such particles so that they may be readily dissolved in the water. The screen may be either fitted up against the end of the chamber and maintained thereby the pressure of the lozenge, or the screenmay have a central pin extending from it into the hole of the lozenge which maintains the screen in position.

The screen further operates to froth the solution after it passes through the lozenge of medicinal powder, and thus effects the formation of a frothy liquid which is an extremely desirable function in apparatuses of this nature.

I may further provide an adjoining chamber adapted to contain a soap or froth-forming material inlozenge or cylindrical cake form, also with a hole through the center, in which case it is desirable that the screen be placed at the rear of the chamber containing such froth forming material.

Alternatively I may employ a single chamber in the base of the douche appliance adapted tov contain two cakes or logenzes with central openings, one of the lozenges being germicidal or medicinal and. the other being of a froth-forming material. Preferably, there is a ridge or spacing between the two to enable a proper mixing of these materials into the fluid, but such a ridge is not essential for satisfactory results.

Although I have made particular reference to the source of supply of the water as being a faucet or other continuous pressure source, it is also within the contemplation of my invention to employ any water supply such as the bag of a fountain syringe or metal or glass receptacle or any other suitable method of obtaining the necessary water supply which may be available. In instances where comparatively high pressure sources of water are not to be employed, then the use of the pressure control described hereinabove is not indicated, but the pressure may be regulated or controlled by means of the commonly used fountain syringe clamp or regulator such as is applied to the hose which connects the water supply with the douche appliance.

It is the object of my invention, therefore, to produce a douche appliance of relatively simple construction to enable its manufacture at low cost.

It is another object of my invention to provide means in such apparatus for forming a germicidal, disinfecting or medicinal solution within the douche appliance.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a germicidal powder in the form of a cake having a lozenge shape so that a hollow cylinder is formed of such germicide. This hollow cylinder is placed in a chamber in the base of the douche appliance in such a manner that the water flowing therethrough passes through the central opening of the cake and continuously and effectively dissolves the germicide contained therein into the water to form a germicidal solution.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a chamber for such hollow cylinder of gerunicidal or medicinal powder and a screen at the rear end of such chamber to effectively prevent the passage of the particles from the chamber containing the germicidal powder; also, to effect a frothing action in the water containing the germicide.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a pressure control cap of rubber or similar material to be used as a connection between the tube of the douche appliance and the mouth of the water faucet or suitable water source in order to maintain the pressure of the water at all times below a predetermined point.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a novel rubber cap connection adapted to engage in friction fit a pressure source of water to predetermine the pressure to be permitted to pass therethrough to a connecting tube.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a molded object, preferably of hard rubber or suitable plastic material, containing a preformed chamber adapted to hold a germicide in cylindrical form and having a large opening.-'

These and further objects of my present invention will become apparent from the description thereof and from the drawing which follows.

Figure 1 is a perspective and partial cutaway section of the douche appliance of my invention.

Figure 2 is a cross section of the chamber containing the medicinal material, the shield and the douche appliance of my invention.

Figure 3 is a cross section taken along the line 33 of Figure 1 showing the intermediate appliance between the faucet or water supply and the tube of the douche appliance of my invention.

Figure 4 is a cross section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2 showing the screen and itsrelation to the lozenge.

Figure 5 is a modified form of my invention showing the chamber adapted to hold the two lozenges with central openings.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing,

Figure 1 shows a faucet I with a rubber fitting 2 which frictionally engages the end of the water faucet I. The rubber fitting 2 terminates in a threaded end 5 over which is positioned the hose 6. Hose 6 terminates on one end I of a fitting 8. On the other end of the fitting B is a tube 9 re1a-- tively large in diameter which tube 9 terminates .on the threaded end II of the chamber I2. The

extreme end of the chamber I2 is engaged with the nozzle I3 and on the nozzle I3 ispositioned the shield I4. The nozzle I3 terminates in the,

large opening I5 through which the solution.

flows.

In Figure 2 there material having a central opening 22. The chamremains in the chamber. chamber I2 at the extreme end of the lozenge 2,I is the screen 23 which is pressed between the cake 2| and the threaded end 24 of the nozzle I3.

Nozzle I3 screws into the chamber l2 in firm en'- j g gagement therewith. Shield I4 may be detachably mounted on the nozzle I3 or may be permanentiy secured thereto. r

In Figure 3 I show in detail the rubber fitting with the central opening 3 and the chamber 4.

When the water pressure from the nozzle IJ-is above that desired, the pressure of that water upon the surface 2 is suchthat because of the inability of suflicient water to escapethroughthe opening 3 the fixture 2 is forced out of friction engagement with the faucet I and disengag'estherefrom.

I11 Figure 5 I show a chamber which engages at 3I in screw thread engagement with thefitting'. When disengaged at that point a lozenge of 32. medicinal material 33 with a central opening 34 of the medcinal material contained in the cake is shownthe hose. 9 and the threaded end I I of the chamber I2. Through the end I I is a large passage 28 for the flow of water. In the chamber I2 is a lozenge 2| of medicinal 25 her I2 preferably is of transparent material soil. that casual inspection reveals the amount of powdered material of the lozenge or cake which At one end of the 30 33 and then of the froth forming material-com. tained in the cake 35. A screen 40 is positioned? at one end of the chamber 30 and is so positioned s for frothing and screening effects.

The douche appliance which has been specifically described is of particular importance because of its simplicity and because of its medicinal effectiveness. As can be seen from the detailed description of the drawing which has been set forth hereinbefore, the parts are relatively few in number and capable of manufacture by' simple apparatus. The medicinal and cleansing effectiveness of the appliance is achieved because, first, of the constant formation of a proper solu"- tion of medicinal material; second, because of the free flow of a largequantity of water; third, be

cause of the frothing effect of the structure en-- hanced by the screen interposed as described water flow in combination with the relatively large amount of water admitted by the appliance making for a thorough and effective ballooning and cleansing. The regulation of the pressure produced by the friction fit is important in view of the large quantity of water passing through the douche appliance. It is rather important that the pressure be kept below a set maximum with a construction of this nature both because of this large quantity ofvwater and also because of,

the maner of forming the medicinal solution by the surface Washing contact with the lozenge contained in the chamber. In other words, if the pressure became too great, hence the speed of the water through the appliance too great, there would be an insufiicient dissolving of the medicinal material and hence a solution of insufficient strength.

Certain modifications are apparent with respect to my device and I intend to be limited only by the claims as appended.

I claim: 7

1 A flexible friction-fit capadapted to engage the nozzle of a faucet, said cap'having a solid transverse marginal surface onto which the flow of water is directed, an opening in the center of the cap through which the water passes, said cap being adapted to disengage from the nozzle of the faucet when an excess of water pressure is directed against said transverse surface.

2. In an irrigating syringe, a chamber, means for positioning a medicinal lozenge in said chamber, means for positioning a soap lozenge in said chamber, and means comprising a screen adapted to foam and mix the solution formed from liquid passing said positioned lozenges.

3. In an irrigating syringe, a chamber, means for positioning a medicinal lozenge in said chamber, means for positioning a soap lozenge in said chamber, and means comprising a screen adapted to foam and. mix the solutions formed from liquid passing said positioned lozenges; a hose connected to said chamber, said hose carrying a flexible friction fit cap, said flexible friction fit cap being adapted to engage the nozzle of a fau- LEWIS Bo'r'r TUCKER. 

